Felon Tied To UNC's Hairston Receives Plea Deal

DURHAM, N.C. - A felon linked to rental cars driven by North Carolina basketball player P.J. Hairston received 36 months of supervised probation as part of a plea deal.

Haydn Patrick "Fats" Thomas accepted the deal Wednesday in a Durham County courtroom.

He pleaded guilty to charges of possession of a firearm by a felon, drug possession with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia from a December 2012 arrest. A fourth charge of maintaining a dwelling to distribute was dismissed.

Thomas received a suspended sentence of 23 to 47 months in jail and must complete 100 hours of community service within the first 12 months of his probation term.

Thomas' name or address appeared on rental records for vehicles driven by Hairston during traffic stops in May and June.